Lot 1046

Description

Thick silver sheet, cut out in the shape of a cross pattée with cross-arms that curve outwards only slightly towards the ends. The centre and the ends of the cross arms are pierced through from the back to form a circular opening. The edges of the pierced openings serve as a rim for setting five glass inlays of different colours (ruby red in the centre; on the cross arms, clockwise from the top: turquoise, pink, yellow and green). The reverse sides of the perforations are covered by significantly larger pieces of silver sheet, which serve as the bases of the settings and are secured with rivets (two on the cross arms, four in the centre). An eyelet made from bent silver sheet is additionally attached to the upper cross arm with two rivets. The eyelet and the front of the cross are richly decorated with punches. The eyelet features longitudinal circular eyes on the dome and dots along the lower edge. Around the central inlay are four triangular punches with raised dots within the recesses. The settings in the cross arms (with the exception of the lower one) are surrounded by dot punches, separated in the spaces between by lines tapering outwards, which resemble rays. The edge of the cross is entirely surrounded by a row of dot-shaped punches. There are slight signs of wear, but most notably distinct notches on the upper edge of the eyelet, which bear witness to the pendant’s intensive use. Height 6.2 cm. Width 5.8 cm. An impressive artefact from the period of the Christianisation of the North Germanic peoples in the late Viking Age. CULTURAL ASSET!

Provenance: Süddeutsche Privatsammlung, übernommen in den späten 90er Jahren aus der Sammlung des Vaters.

Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?